Punta Gorda 2012
Juan Caal
Juan Caal is a young Mayan leader from Toledo who was 19 years old when he became a GOJoven Fellow. Juan has experience with the Toledo Mayan Women’s Council and has worked as a journalist for Plus TV. Juan also demonstrates his dedication to community development through involvement in community clean-up campaigns and participation in door-to-door surveys around health issues such as diabetes. This motivated young leader is excited to connect his training in media with SRH advocacy.
Adeliah Ishim
Adeliah Ishim was 26 when she became a GOJoven Belize Fellow. She is multi-lingual, speaking Maya Mopan in addition to Creole and English. Adeliah has done work with the Toledo Maya Women’s Council in Punta Gorda to empower women and young girls through income-generating projects in jewelry-making, crafts, and sewing. During these group sessions, they also discuss sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues that impact the community such as domestic violence and teen pregnancy. Adeliah sees herself applying her business background to her career. As a committed leader, her goal is to increase her knowledge and empower herself in the area of SRH rights to continue advocating to improve SRH among youth and women in her community.
Tasha Petillo
Tasha Petillo has assisted the organization Plenty Belize with its mission of “Working together for the people, communities, and environment of Toledo” as the accounts manager, business skills trainer, and as project manager. Her formal education includes an Associate’s Degree in Natural Resources Management, and several skills-building courses, including a certification course in “Community Development with Local Residents as Main Actors” held in Japan in 2010. Tasha has done work around sexual and reproductive health issues like domestic violence, creating and presenting a video on domestic violence to youth. As an active member serving in many community organizations, Tasha is an asset to Punta Gorda. Tasha was 27 when she became a Fellow with GOJoven Belize.
Adolfo Cal
Adolfo Cal was 25 years old when selected to be part of the GOJoven Belize Program. Adolfo is from AguacateVillage, a remote community in the Toledo District, and speaks Ketchi Maya, as well as English and Creole. He is has served as a volunteer for Humana Child Aid Toledo, and in 2005, he graduated from the JulianChoTechnicalHigh School, where he received a Diploma in Vocational Studies. This hard-working individual looks forward to furthering his education and believes that education can make a difference in someone’s life. Adolfo is a dedicated leader in his community: hosting sporting activities, helping the elderly, and taking part in an advisory meeting in Dangriga to advocate for better youth policy. His dream is to open a youth resource center in his community, which promotes education, sexual and reproductive health, and sustainable agriculture and tourism as sources of income.
Linston Mckenzie
Linston Mckenzie was 27 when he became a GOJoven fellow. Linston was born in Corozal and raised in Punta Gorda. This engaging youth advocate brings experience in different types of media; his professional experience includes working as the director of Toledo Exposure Documentary Film Company. At the age of 23, Linston competed in Punta Gorda for the Mayor position. This experience inspired him to work for positive social change in his region and country through political action. As such, Linston is committed to improving sexual and reproductive health and education, and ensuring environmentally sustainable development of Belize.